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TWENTY-TWO (3): Ambushing Mr. Winters
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2024-11-06 16:45:35Winters Corp. headquarters was a modern masterpiece of steel and glass that towered into the sky, its minimalist design made it stand out confidently among the other buildings in the business district. The sheer size of it made visitors feel small—a clear sign of the power of the man behind it, Andre Winters. The building seemed to say that only those worthy of respect could walk within its walls.
Annabelle felt a thrill pulse through her as she stepped inside. The reception hall was stunning. Light poured in through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, lighting up the polished marble floors and high-end furnishings. To her left was a waiting area furnished with comfortable seating in soft grays and blacks. The Winters logo was etched onto the wall behind the receptionist, sharp and understated—a simple W with a line through it, full of ruthless simplicity.
This time, Annabelle noticed the receptionist’s demeanor had shifted. Gone was the dismissiv
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Annabelle crossed the room with steady steps, keeping her face neutral as she met his gaze. But the closer she got, the more she felt that prickling awareness again, the same one she’d felt every time she was near him. She sat down, crossing one leg over the other and folding her hands in her lap."Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Winters," she said, careful to keep her tone level."Of course," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "I must say, I was curious when I heard you were here. I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon after our last conversation.”The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile, but his eyes remained unreadable. He was testing her, she realized, waiting to see what angle she would take. Annabelle met his gaze evenly.“I didn’t think so either,” she admitted, “but I couldn’t stay away—not when you gave me that hint about the contract.”He raised an eyebrow
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Annabelle was momentarily at a loss, taken aback by his sincerity. But before she could respond, Andre stood and walked toward her, crossing the room with a quiet, powerful intensity. He stopped when he was just inches from her, his presence almost overwhelming as he reached down and traced a finger along her jawline. A shiver ran through her as his eyes bore into hers. His voice softened, but his words were edged with hidden anger. “But you can understand my disappointment in seeing how your family treated her. Now that she’s no longer part of the Robinson name, I have no desire to continue this arrangement. I have no reason to care about your company’s success—or failure.”Annabelle bristled at his words. His dismissal of her family was cutting, even if it was grounded in James’s reckless behavior.His fingers dropped, his eyes hardening. “I’ve heard how James treated her. And I’ve heard how she was discarded, as
Last Updated : 2024-11-08Tangled Destinies TWENTY THREE (1): On Thin Ice
Annabelle gripped the steering wheel as she drove, her mind whirring through her conversation with Andre Winters. She replayed each word, every flicker of expression that had crossed his face, hunting for something she might have missed. The image of his self-assured smirk, his dark eyes glinting with secrets, lingered vividly. But what haunted her most was his revelation about Lila—how he had taken on her father’s company, not because he felt it deserved his business, but simply to make sure Lila would be provided for, hidden under the guise of business.Annabelle’s chest tightened at the thought. This admission alone raised more questions than it answered. Did Lila even know that Andre was looking out for her? Or perhaps… was there history between them that Lila had never mentioned? As much as she tried, Annabelle couldn’t shake the idea that maybe, just maybe, Andre had once been close to Lila, closer than mere friends. If that were true, why
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Her father’s political career was, she knew, far more at risk than he let on. The media had long awaited any chance to dig into his volatile temper and questionable decisions, and with Andre distancing himself, they would have that opportunity. David would lose, and it would be nothing short of spectacular.Part of her almost wanted to see it happen.But another part, the part that had been raised with a relentless sense of duty to her family’s legacy, steeled her resolve. She had to save the company. If there was any chance of securing Andre’s contract again, she would have to play this carefully.She leaned back against her desk, folding her arms as she eyed her father and brother. “So,” she said coolly, “I assume you’re here to tell me something important.”“He’s pulling out,” James said, breaking the tense silence that followed Annabelle’s question. His voice was low, full of frus
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As Annabelle spoke, she could see her father’s frustration rising, his temper ready to spill over. But what troubled her more than anything was the way James shrank under their father’s simmering rage, the way his shoulders hunched in defeat. She could feel the familiar tension in the air, the power struggle between her father and brother, one that had been ongoing for years.David didn’t waste any time before turning his fury on James. “You’re useless, James! Utterly useless!” he spat, his words biting through the silence. “How could you let this happen? How could you let Lila slip through our fingers? And you never even bothered to run a proper background check on her?”James flinched, his face pale. He struggled to find his words, his hands twitching at his sides as he stumbled over his answer. “I… of course, I did,” he muttered shakily, his voice betraying his nerves. “The background check cam
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She needed a moment to herself.Her own office felt like a suffocating cage—tight, oppressive, and full of unresolved tensions. James’ weak explanations, her father’s simmering frustration, and the undercurrent of danger looming over the Winters situation. She needed a space to breathe, a place far from the relentless demands of her family and the suffocating weight of their expectations. She couldn’t go back home just yet—not where her mother would be waiting, looking up to her to solve this mess James had created.With no particular destination in mind, she turned her car toward the outskirts of the city. She drove aimlessly, the city’s buildings blurring past her, until her car stopped at a small sanctuary she knew of: an indoor garden nestled in the heart of the city, hidden away from the prying eyes of the world. The lush greenery and the sweet scent of flowers helped her ground herself in ways she couldn’t explain. It was
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They found a nearby bench, surrounded by hanging plants and soft sunlight streaming through the glass roof, and settled down. Annabelle felt her tension begin to ease. It wasn’t as if she was unaware of the dangerous position she was in—she couldn’t forget for a second that Andre had the power to crush her family with the flick of his wrist. But for now, in this quiet space, she allowed herself to pretend she lived a much more normal life. She forgot about her father’s frantic desperation and the threat Andre posed. In the bubble of their easy banter, the power dynamics seemed to blur, leaving just two people talking in a quiet garden.The hours seemed to slip by as they talked— business, the weather, small things that made her forget the weight of her responsibilities. Annabelle found herself surprisingly at ease with him.It wasn’t long before she realized that she was enjoying his company. There was an undeniable chemistry between them, something that made her feel
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Just as Annabelle was about to take a deep breath and relax, Andre reappeared with two mocktails in hand, his expression one of feigned innocence."Here we go," he said, setting the drinks down in front of her. "I thought you might need a little something after that... torturous exchange."Annabelle raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to save me."He smirked, the glint in his eye mischievous. "Oh, I was, but I changed my mind. You see, I had to sacrifice you to her. She’s obviously really into me, and I had no choice but to let you face her alone to save myself. But you survived, didn’t you?"For a moment, Annabelle stared at him, not quite understanding. And then, the meaning of his words hit her. Her lips parted in a surprised laugh, the sound bubbling out of her before she could stop it. Andre’s mischievous grin was contagious, and before she knew it, the weight of the day seemed to lift, if only for a moment.As the laugh
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"I'm in the city," Lila repeated, her voice slightly breathless. "I just got off the train. I—" She paused, then let out a small, self-conscious laugh. "I know it's sudden. But I wanted to let you know before I get to a hotel."Annabelle sat back on the closed toilet lid, pressing her free hand against her forehead. Lila had been in Sea’s Edge just last night. The last time they spoke, she said nothing of wanting to leave and now she was here?"You’re looking for a hotel?" she asked, catching on to that last part."Yeah. I… I didn’t really think this far ahead. I just knew I needed to come back," Lila said. "I’m trying to find a taxi now.""Don’t," Annabelle said immediately. "Don’t get into any taxis. I’ll come pick you up.""You don’t have to—""I will," Annabelle interrupted firmly. "Just wait for me at the station. I’ll start coming now."Lila sighed teasingly but didn&rsq
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Annabelle slowly stirred, her body warm despite the cool morning air. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this deeply satisfied, with contentment wrapping around her like a second skin. As she shifted, a slow ache bloomed through her body; a delicious reminder of the night before.She was sore everywhere – her arms, her thighs, her shoulders. For Pete’s sake, she was sore in places she didn’t even know one could get sore in. And it made her want to do it all over again. Her lashes fluttered open, and for a moment, she simply lay there, absorbing the quiet intimacy of the moment. The room was dimly lit with the heavy hotel curtains keeping the morning light at bay even though the sun was already risen. The sheets were tangled around her legs, cool against her skin, but it was the solid weight of the arm slung over her waist that held her still. Andre.The realization sent a ripple of surprise through her. She had expected to wake up al
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Lila’s fingers trembled as she scribbled a quick note to Marcus, her vision blurred by unshed tears.“I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a break.”She hesitated for a brief second before placing the note where she knew he would see it. As she gathered her things and slipped out of the bookstore, a cool gust of wind brushed against her damp cheeks. The streets of Sea’s Edge were quiet this afternoon, with most of its population at work. She should feel relieved that today was a slow day. Marcus wouldn’t struggle to handle the few customers that trickled in. But relief never came. Only a hollow ache in her chest as her feet carried her down the familiar path back to the cottage.Every step, her mind replayed her conversation with Dominic in excruciating detail.The moment he had asked her if they weren’t enough of a reason for her to fight. The way his expression had hardened. The hurt in his eyes when he realized she was choosing to leave rather than stay and fight for them.She pus
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Annabelle’s brows lifted, unimpressed. She folded her arms and leaned back against her chair. “Wow,” she drawled. “That’s a very serious accusation, James. Do you have any proof, or are we just throwing wild theories around now?”His jaw twitched. “Don’t play games with me. You’re the only one who cared enough about her to help her disappear. You must know something.”Annabelle exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. “You sound paranoid.”James took a step closer. “Don’t do that. Don’t act like I’m crazy.”“You are, though.” She tilted her head, a sharp glint in her eyes. “Because yesterday, you weren’t even asking about Lila. You didn’t care where she was. You weren’t checking in on the so-called search effort. But now, all of a sudden, you’re this devoted ex-husband who’s desperate to find her?”
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After a cold shower in the gym’s locker room, Annabelle towel-dried her hair, taking her time as the icy water’s effect dulled the fire simmering in her belly. She knew it wouldn’t last. Even as she dressed in a fresh set of clothes, her mind wandered. She could have sworn her body was humming. She wasn’t naive to let herself think this was about emotions or romance. No, this was about doing something for Annabelle for once, and not for the company and certainly not for the family.With her hair satisfactorily dry, she left the building, her gym bag hung on her shoulder. Sliding into her car, she pulled out her phone and quickly booked a suite at an upscale hotel. With a few taps and a confirmation email, a suite at the prestigious Meridian was booked.She deliberately chose a neutral setting, somewhere neither nor Andre could claim dominance. If she was going to have this night with him, she wanted it to be free from the weight of their family names, their business interests, their t
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Annabelle was the first to pull away, though it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to do so. Her breath came in short, uneven pants, and she could still taste Andre on her lips, still feel the firm press of his body against hers. His hands still rested on her waist, his grip firm, as if he wasn’t quite ready to let go. Maybe that was a hint he thought that she might take back what she'd just done. But Annabelle had no intention of second-guessing herself. Not this time.She placed a hand against his chest, creating a sliver of space between them, but it did nothing to cool the heat simmering in her veins.She swallowed, taking a moment to calm herself before she spoke. “We need to set some ground rules.”Andre’s fingers flexed against her waist, his thumb grazing over the damp fabric of her workout top. “Rules?” he asked. His voice was rougher than usual, less composed. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t secretly delighted in the fact that she had shaken that assured composu
